HOW TO: Hit a softball

Friday

Jul 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 27, 2007 at 10:08 PM

Whether you’re an up-and-coming softball player, or have been playing the game for a while, understanding the phases of a solid swing — along with training your body to perform each of the following phases correctly — will lead you to becoming a solid, consistent hitter. See a photo slideshow on how to hit a softball.

Mike Sandrolini

Whether you’re an up-and-coming softball player, or have been playing the game for a while, understanding the phases of a solid swing — along with training your body to perform each of the following phases correctly — will lead you to becoming a solid, consistent hitter.

1 Stance

Make sure your feet are even and parallel, with your knees slightly and equally bent. Your knees also should be positioned inside of your feet. Your front shoulder should be lower than your back, and your elbows should point down (to form an upside down “V”).

2 Toe touch

Make sure your weight is evenly distributed. Your front knee should be positioned inside your front foot. Land on the ball of your front foot, with your heel slightly in the air. Your front shoulder should be lower than your back, and the bottom of your bat should be pointing toward the catcher.

3 Contact

Your knees, hips and shoulders are lined up at the center of your body. Your back elbow is bent, and your hands are slightly higher than the ball. In addition, your hands are in a palm up, palm down position. Your back heel is in the air, and your front leg should be stiff.

4 Extension

Your back hand remains in a palm-up position. Your arms are straight, your body is centered and balanced, and your back heel is in the air.

5 Follow through

A good finish to a swing indicates a good hand path through the hitting zone. Your wrists will roll over after full extension has been achieved. Your hands will usually finish at shoulder level or above depending on the height of the pitch. Stay short to the ball, and long to the finish!

Kendall Duffy of Naperville, who is a member of the White Sox Training Academy’s 12U fast pitch traveling team, demonstrates.